Let-off mechanism for looms



w. F. MINTEL I LET-OFF MECHANISMFOR LOOMS Nov. 29, 1927.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1927 lnvenror. William F. Minrel 1,651,334 W. F. MINTEL LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed March 1 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ir wenror William F. Mmtel byfmdwxw Anya.

Patented Nov. 29., 1927.-

pairs-n sraras WILLI M F. am, or rawrncnnr, nnonn ISLAND, ASSIG-NOR ronnarnn con roanrron, or Hornnnnn, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION orv MAINE.

1,651,334 PAT NroFFic LET-OFF IYTECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed March 15, 1927. Serial No. 175,581.

This invention provides a novel form of mechanism for controlling the tension on the warps in a 1 0111, for letting off the warps as required in the -weaving operation, for maintaining the tension on the warps during the opening and closing of the shed. and forpermitting let-back of the warps when required- V The object of the invention is to provide a let-off mechanism or warp beam controlling mechanism for these purposes in which the control shall be by the rotation of the warp beam backward and forward as required, thuseliminating the use of chains, weights and-other similar appliances.

The objectrof. the invention is'fnrther to eliminate the usual vibrating whip roll and to provide for the oscillation of the warp bean ritself to secure the required results.

The object of.the invention is further to provide a let-off mechanism which will onable the warps to be let back at the front of the loom and to be taken up automatically by the warp beamyas for example, when a 25:

rectly concerned with the oscillation of the Warp beam thustoenable the warp line to -be maintained (as required, particularly as required by the changing diameter of the Warp mass. 1

Theobject of theinvention is further to provide a simple and efiicient friction let-elf mechanism securingthe desired results and preferably controlled from the cran shaftof the loom.

features of the loom concerned with the cont-rol iof' the warp beam, it is unnecessary here to illustrate and describe anything more than those features of a loom directly concerned with, the present invention and it will. be

obvious that a construction embodying the present invention may be adapted to looms of awide variety of design and construcin the draw ngs I 1 is a side elevation of a portion of tical section taken through the taken on the line 44t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective to show the connection between the :friction drum shaft and the warp beam gudgeon.

Fig. 6 is a detail in cross section-to show the connection between the pitinan and the arm of'the friction member.

The loom shown isof a simple and ordinary construction. A portionof one side frame 1 is illustrated and each side frame has built out rearwardly therefrom a warp beam supporting braoket2. The shed forming mechanism is shown as of a simple type comprising the two harness frames 3 and 4. The crank shaft 5 is driven in theusua-l manper and operates by suitable pitmans 6 the,

ay p I The warp beam is of the usual type comprising the core 7, the metal heads 8 and 9 and the gudgeons 10 and 11. The-warps 12 are shown as extending from the warp beam over a roll 13,'which may be omitted, through lease rods 14 and thence through the harnessesB and 4t forwardly. The warps pass to the usual take-up roll at the front of the loom which it is unnecessary to illustrate- "A friction drum 15 is rigidly secured to a short friction drum shaft 16 journalled in a bearing 17 having a depending leg 18 mounted to slide vertically in a bracket 19 bolted at 20 to the side frame ofthe loom. The leg 18 is slotted and bolts 21in the bracket 19 passing through this slot enables the bearing 1.7 to be adjusted and locked in any desired vertical position. A similar vertically ad-c jnstable bearing 22 is provided for the gudgeon 10 at the opposite side of the 100m.

The friction drum 15 is detachably connected to the warp beam so as to rotate in either direction therewith and to become,

during the weaving operation, a unitwith 45 r bottom member, passing through a hole 34: in the-top memberfland a thumb nut 35'threaded mental end portion 23 and the inner surface24 of this segmental end'wof-the. drum shaft is of a size to form a bearing for the gudgeon 111oftlie-wa'rpbeam.'- A clamp, the

constructions of Whieh 'inf-its preferred form is shown in-det'ailin Figs; 2, 4 and 5, clamps the Warp beam gudgeon 11 firmlyvto the-segmental end-portion; of the friction drum shaft 16 'andflalsoi clampsthe drum shaft to the adjacent warp bamhead so that'motion. imparted ,to the friction fdrum shaft 16 1s not only transferred to the QWfl-Ip beam 'gudgeon', but -dir'ectly .to the .Warp lbeam -head,thus insuring a' strongs connection'and 7' altop member 26hinged at 27 to-the base the accuratemovement of the warp beam in either direction: with the friotlon drum.

The clamp illustrated comprises a f base member fittingaagainstithe exterior of the seg mentalend23 of thefriction drum shaft and Q member. ,This 'tOp memberwhen.-closed-, as

7 shown in-Figi3, notro'nly abuts thebottommember, bubalsoabutS the-flat surfacesof the segmental end 2310f the friction: drum shaft, thus'causing; the clamp to rotate with the-drums'l1a ;ft'.-. The top member 26 0f the 4 clamp is also providedewith bevelled surfaces 1: 28 which w-hen-the clamp is closed, cramp t againstthe varpibeam-gudgeongll and thus. clock it tightly to, the segmental end 23 of the drum;;'shaft'.:' In addition, the top memone of the flanges-300ithe'beamheadQ-and' b61 26, of theelamp is provided with an extendedgrooved section 29adaptedto fit. over a Y set screw 31 in this' groovedksection '29 enables it to belocked firmly to the flange- I 30. .The clamp'members are '=locked--together clamp imparteddireotlyiin eith'er idirection bothg-to the warplbeaingudgeon and to the warpybeam*head,,.thus insuring a positive V with the friction drum,

bya'threadecl-pin-32swivelled at 33 in the on to the pin-32.

' It rwill' thus beseen that --Whenthe clamp is open, as sho'wn-in Fig. 5, and the bearing 22 at-the otherside oigthe loom is open, the v ,WtIIp beam may. readilybefidropped into position and removed-there'fror'n The clamp, iafter thescrew 3l'ris unlocked, may be slid along the-drum shaft 16, if necessary, tofifree it from"'engagementpwith the warpbeam 5 head.- f When the Warpbeamis in placeand the-clamp jisilockedlin :closed" position, as

shownin Fig.4, it will be seen that the drive from-the "drum shaft isby ,means of this rotation of the we. p

beam in either dlrection iththe friction drum lfi. V Theparts 36 and 37 of thisringarefshown as having a d-= jacent ends hinged together at 38 and the up: s posite ends extended radially at' 39 and 40 A friction member, preferably in theform L7 F of a-tWo-part ring surrounds andcooperates-t and detaehably: and adjustably secured t ogether by a pin 41 and thumb s 42 nection similar to that employed in the clamp n just described. The required friction) between the friction member and the drum is V. p controlled to some extent by the thumb screw 42, but more completely andaccurately by" the provision of I a plurality of frictionshoes interposed between the friction'member and drum, preferably forming apart o'fth'e fric f. I

tion member and preferablyipressed yield-j ingly and radially against the friction drum. i H In the-construction illustrated, each part- 0f these shoes each of thefsameconstruction.

As illustrated, eaclrshoe comprises afring segment 43 preferably of metal mounted on the friction} member is'piovidedwith two'of and guidedradia'lly'of the friction'memberf] by a stud 44 riveted to thefriction member.

Springs fi in pockets "in the friction member press against the outer surfa'eei f these shoes and torcethem radially toward f is the friction drumiy The engagingsur'face' of the shoes is preferably-formed of-a suitable :frictien material such 'a's'xa. layer of leather 46. 1 Set screvvs 47 threaded in the friction: member, provided With the flock? nuts 48 andlwith heads or Washers 49, abut-"1 if. ting the springsflb, enable the forceof the 7 springs to 'be adjusted and eonsequentlythe de-gree of friction between the friction :mem

her and the drump It will thus be seen thatoscil'lationbfr0 tary movement l of the friction member takes;

place about the common axis of the-trim r; tion drum and warp bea'mand jany' suchj' movement of the-friction member orfr'ic'tiont engagi g .means is impartedby""friction -'di-.

r'ectl'y to the "warp beam:

The required oscillation or rotationjin op posite directions of thisgfriction member-"is E secured by, a 'pitman reciprocated"intimed' relation to the operation 10f the'loom pref r erably from the crank shaft'thereofandfhaving a yielding connection wi't h the friction member} In vthe-construction :ilIuS-L tratech-one part of th friction member: i such as the part 36 is provided with a'down Wardly and radially jextending' ri'gid arm A elamp 5l isconnected to and isfad q uStablelOngitud'inaIIy of' the'arm 50, being held in adj ustecl position ,by' a set screw '52. This clamp; has sWivelled therein. at 53 a" bearinghead 54. eApitman'rod 55fis moiint Ledto slide-in this bearing'headb lf At one end: the pitman rod 55 is pi-ovided with an",

eccentric strap 56 engaging an ecentric' 57 i on the crank-shaftfi of the m. ,At its e 1 other. endthe pitman is provided with-lock H l i I lin 'r Ta 7 nuts 58, awasher 59, a sleeve 60 between the,

washer'59 and the bearing head 54, and an expansion helical spring 61 surrounding the sleeve 60 and abutting at its ends the washer and the set screws 47, the degree of friction betwecnfthe friction shoe and the friction drum which is connected to the warp beam may be adjusted as required to permit the warp beam to rotate forward wlth respect to the friction engaging means under the.

normal advance of the warps in the weaving operation. j

As the shed closes, it is necessary to rotime the warp beam rearward to maintain the tension on the warps and this is done positively because, as the eccentric 57 1'0 tates to the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 7 the pitman rod pulls the sleeve up against the bearing head 54 and thus a positive movement is imparted to the friction member '37. Forward movement of the warpbeam, or that movement by which the warps move forward to the take-up roll, is

7 always opposed yieldingly, as by the spring, 60, 'so that the tensionin the warps is'opposed by the force of the spring 60. Accordingly when the pitman connection is moving toward the position shown in Fi 1, the forward'rotation of thewarp beam is permitted by the tension on the warps rotating the warp beam forwardly against the tension of the spring 60. Accordingly also,

if atany time the warps are let back at the front of 'the loom, for the purpose of a pick-out? or for any other reason the force of the spring 60 reacting against the washer 59 on the pitman slides the bearing head 54 forwardly on the pitman and thus rocks the friction member-and the warp beam rearward to maintain the tension on the warpsand keep the warps taut. Qonsequently it is unnecessary .for'the operative to go to the rear of the loom to let back the warp beam when the warps are to be let back at the front .of the 100m because this mechanism automatically rotates the warp beam rearward under such clrcumstances.

In theoperation of the loom, the opera-- .tive fromtime to time adjusts the clamp 51 along the arm 50 as the diameter of the warp mass on the warp beam decreases. lVith certain kinds of warps it is undesirable, to have rolls such as 13 or other guides than necessary in contact therewith. In

such casesthe warp line will extend directly from thetop of the warp mass forwardly through the harness frames and this warp line maybe maintainedas thewarp mass decreases in diameter by raising the yarn beam, the friction drum and the friction engaging means as" a unit because all these parts are supported by the vertically adjustable bearing frames 18 and this vertical adjustment does not interfere to any material extent with the timing or operation of the pitman connection.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: j

l. A loom comprising a warp beam, shed forming mechanism, means frictionally engaging the warp beam acting to rotate the warp beam rearward as the shed closes and permitting the warp beam to rotate for-- ward as the shed opens, and a yielding connection in said means acting to rotate the warp beam rearWardwhen the warps are let back at the front of the 100111.

A loom comprising a warp beam, shed forming mechanism, means frictionally engaging the warp beam, means for rotating said engaging means to rotate the warp beam rearward as the shed opens and for permitting said engaging means and warp beam to rotate forwardas the shed opens, and a yielding connection in said rotating means acting against the tension in the warps and acting to rotate said engaging means and thereby the warp beam rearward when the warps are let back at the front of the loom.

3. A loom comprising a warp beam, shed V forming mechanism, a friction drum detachably connected to the warp beam to rotate in either direction therewith, a friction member engaging the drum and oscillatory about the common axis of the warp beam and drum, an arm extending radially from the friction member, a pitman yieldingly con nected to and adjustable longitudinally of said arm, and meansfor reciprocating the pitman in timed relation to the operation of the loom to rotate the warp beam rearward as the shed closes and to permit the warp beam to rotate forward as the shed opens.

' a. A loom having the construction defined in claim 3, together with means for adjust ing bodily and vertically as a unit the warp beam, friction drum, friction member and arm to position the warp line as required.

5. A loom comprising a warp beam, shed forming mechanism, a friction drum detachably connected to the warp beam to rotatein either direction therewith, a friction member engaging the drum and oscillatory about the common axis of the warp beam and drum, an arm extending radially from the friction member, a clamp connected to and adjustable longitudinally of said arm, a pitman rod mounted to slide in said clamp and acting to oppose *the'tension "i'irthe warps, and means for reciprocating the man in timedjrelation tofthe operation of I V v p i rotate the warp"beamrearward as the Iclosesand' for permitt ng said fr ction mem the'loom" to rotate the warp beam rearward asthe shed closes and permit the warp beam to rotate forward as the shed open'slf 6." A loom comprising the construction de- '7, ftime'the tension on the warps 'is' relaxed as j by letting back at the front of the loom, torotate the warp beam rearward', and tor ment therewith, a friction' 'di'umzmof ted on the shaft and means' fo'riclampin gudgeon in and'to the segmental Cllull'l s litft 10. Aloom comprising the construct on.

I ,beam gudgeons and the said shalt.

fined in'claim 5, in which the means forre ciprocating' the plt-man rod comprises an eccentricfon thecran'k shaft of theloom. j 7. A loom comprls'inga warpbeam", shed forming mechanism,means frictionally en:

gaging the warp beam topcrmit the warp beam torotate tor-ward with respect thereto undcii the normal advance of the warps in weaving," and means for-"positively rotating said engaging means a predetermined extent as the shed closes to rotate the'waipbeam for causing said engaging means, at any permitting said engaging means and -l the warp beam to rotateforward as the shed- I p p I p p I tionme'mber and drum." I

opens 8; A loom comprisingithe constrtiction fined in claim 7, together with means lor a'd jn'stingbodily and v ertically the warp beam and friotionally engagingmeans toposition the "warp line as required." j

9.; A lOOIIlCOHlPIlSlIlgi a warp" beam hayA ing heads and gndgeons, a shaft having" a segmental-endi-to receive and snpport a gudgeon of the warp beamfm a l ahgndefined in claim 9; t0gether with means for. bodily and vertically adpistmg the warp 11. A loom comprising'a warp V V I ing heads and gudgeon's; a shaft. 'havmga segmental endto jreceirej and pstipporti a gudgeonoi the warp beam in ax al nentthrewith, a frictionfidrunimounted on the shaft and means for clamping the fricg tion drum shaft; tothe {warpbeam head with thegudgeon seated n the segmental to the gudgeon seated in its segmental end.

13. A loom comprising a warp beam, shed forming mechanism, a friction drum con-Y nected to the 'warpbean to rotate ineither dir'e'c'tiontherewith, friction member rotatw S'alfl o'scillatin means; including a yielding com nection jact ngiagainst thefitens on in' the beamhav v I forming mechanism, .alricti'on dr m con? able aboiit the common" (if the A i beam an'd fdrfim; friction shoes on thefric-l tio fm mb i y l i g I diel yi i Q engagement" with the drum, and oscillating means for rotating said friction member; to'

br and h i p a to rotateforward the shed Opens; i H v,

i 100m 0 forming mechanism, a fIlCtlOh: drum Con nected to" tl'ie'warp beam to'rot atejin either thereof into' engagement with the drum,"

springs acting to force :saidfshoes toward il'16' Cll"L11Il ,1illl CliQScllltitillg means for rotati g said trictionmem'ber to rotatethe Warp beam rearward and maintain thewarp tei'isi'onand f rearwardas the shed closes and for'ipermitting said friction member and the w a'r'pbam to rotate forward as theshed opens, 7' 15. A loom having the constructiondefined" inolaim 1 toge'ther with means foradj ustf ing'the z fo'rce' of the sprin' 5' thereby to adj-Q just the degree of friction etween vthe fric-j a 16; A loonrcom'p'risingawarpfbeaimshedi forn'iingjmechanism, 'a friction drum con? nectefdfto -theflwarpbeam to rotate'in either .dire't ion th'e ifewith,:a friction" -meinber' en gm t d um a t t bl bo whe a m n I 91 e, a p beam-and ums L 7 andfoscillating means for rotatingsaid 'fric'-- ti on i member to rotate the warp beam rear;

' ward as the shfedhclosesland tor permitting ,a

said friction i'member and the warp 'bea'm to" rotate forward: as the shed "pp-ens, the said warps t "rotate the fricftion'jdr imi and there 'witlif the warp beam rearward .when the warps are let baok 'at-the front of the loom. 17. 3 A loom comprising" a war beam; shed ne'cted a; the warp beam *tof rotate in either direction therewith; 'fa friietio n member'proi tatable aboutfthe' common axis @of the war beam and drum and consisting atw'o -p art ring sfurrounding'the' drum periphery with g the parts hinged together at'adjacent ends; and; adjustably" connectedftog'ether at the other ends; friction shoes on thefring'parts" yieldingly forced radially into engagement with the drum, and "oscillating means for r0 tatingsaid friction member torotate the warp beam'lre arward; as thel shedtcloses and i for permitting the said friction member and we P"-"' e n FQl' f tw rdi i the h d:

' In testimon v name to this specification.

pfWlLLIA'lSl rgMm'rian omprisiiig awarp beam, shed 

